writer, librarian, grant consultant

While the flies still buzzed around the groundhog’s head in the back yard, I searched online for every angle I could think of about disposing of a dead animal. Legally, we couldn’t throw his corpse in the river. Tempting, but illegal. If we buried him, we’d have to dig at least six inches down into … More Downsizing: The Marmot’s Tale, Part 2

There was one moment when I thought the entire selling-the-house deal would fall apart. It happened on Thursday, the day before closing. The new owners had some difficulty arranging the final walk-through of the property. They were sure they wanted the house, so we figured it was just a formality. They scheduled it on the … More Downsizing: The Marmot’s Tale, Part 1

Bill and I were leaving the first house we bought together. I thought saying goodbye to the house would be different than the apartments I left in the past. I thought I would have more pangs of conscience. I thought I would miss the space, the light, and the backyard menagerie that entertained me … More Downsizing: Saying Goodbye

The house was sold! The contract was signed! Contemplating the possibility of moving was strange and exciting when it was a goal, but now it was a reality. Our first question was, “When?” The buyers asked for a May 28th settlement, and we agreed. Our second question was, “Where are we going to live next?” We … More Downsizing: Limbo and Luck

We had a few showings after the house went on the market at the beginning of March. I heard a lot of folks talk about what an annoyance showings can be because you have to keep the house neat, clean, and ready for visits at a moment’s notice. We didn’t mind that part of … More Downsizing: The Open House

In January we decided on a March 13th open house so the realtor could show prospective buyers how lovely our home was. By mid-February the weight of prepping the house for sale set in. What seemed like a good idea in early January now felt like an unbearable load on my shoulders. Bill took it … More Downsizing: Preparing to put the house on the market

Bill did the work of looking for a storage unit that would suit our needs. The biggest considerations were size, cost, and location. We chose Storage Depot because they had several size options available, they were running a three-month pricing special (it was January, after all, not a time most people are looking to move their … More Downsizing: the Storage Unit